Yazz the Greatest

Last updated
Yazz the Greatest
Bryshere Y. Gray (26362135321).jpg
Gray at 2016 PaleyFest
Born
Bryshere Yazuan Gray

(1993-11-28) November 28, 1993 (age 32)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Other names
  • Yazz
  • Yazz the Greatest
Occupations
  • actor
  • rapper
Known for

Bryshere Yazuan Gray (born November 28, 1993), [1] [2] professionally known by the stage name Yazz the Greatest is an American actor and rapper, best known for his role as Hakeem Lyon in the Fox primetime musical drama television series Empire . He is also known for his portrayal as Michael Bivins in the 2017 BET miniseries The New Edition Story .

Contents

Career

Gray at the 15th Annual BET Awards (2015). Bryshere Y. Gray (cropped).jpg
Gray at the 15th Annual BET Awards (2015).

Since 2013, Gray has performed at a variety of music festivals in the Philadelphia area, including Jay Z's Made in America Festival, The Roots' Picnic Festival, and Power 99FM's Powerhouse concert. [3] He also has been the opening act for rappers, such as Fabolous and 2 Chainz. [4] His debut single "Respect" was released in 2013. [5] In 2015, Gray began his first acting role as Hakeem Lyon on the Fox drama TV series Empire , with co-stars Taraji P. Henson, Terrence Howard and Jussie Smollett. [6] In March 2015, it was confirmed that both Smollett and Gray had been signed to Columbia Records as solo artists. [7] In April 2016, Gray was cast, alongside Elijah Kelley, Luke James, Algee Smith, Keith Powers and Woody McClain, in a BET miniseries about R&B boyband New Edition, which debuted in January 2017. Gray was cast to portray New Edition co-founding member, Michael Bivins. [8] In April 2018, Gray co-starred, as Tyrell, with Teyana Taylor in Honey: Rise Up and Dance.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2015–2020 Empire Hakeem Lyon Main cast
2016 Celebrity Name Game Himself
2017 The New Edition Story Michael Bivins Miniseries; main cast
2017 Lip Sync Battle HimselfEpisode: "Bryshere Gray vs. Rumer Willis"
2018 Honey: Rise Up and Dance TyrellDirect to video
2018 Sprinter Marcus Brick
2019 Canal Street Kholi Styles

Discography

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbums
US
[9] 		US
R&B/HH
[10] 		US
R&B
[11]
"Respect"2013———Non-album single
"No Apologies"
(featuring Jussie Smollett)		201512344— Empire: Original Soundtrack from Season 1
"Drip Drop"
(featuring Serayah)		11437—
"You're So Beautiful"
(Jussie Smollett featuring Yazz)		471910
"Chasing the Sky"
(Terrence Howard featuring Jussie Smollett and Yazz)		2016——24 Empire: Original Soundtrack Season 2 Volume 2
"Good People"
(Jussie Smollett featuring Yazz)		——20

Awards and nominations

BET Awards

NAACP Image Awards

Teen Choice Awards

References

  1. ↑ Eichel, Molly (December 3, 2014). "Bravo Host Andy Cohen Loved Working with Eagle Boykin". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Archived from the original on July 28, 2015. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Meet Bryshere Gray, The Bad Boy Doing Better On 'Empire'". Vibe. 2015-01-21. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  3. ↑ "Empire State of Mind: Bryshere Gray Talks Hakeem And Working With Timbaland". HipHopDX . Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Who Plays Hakeem on Empire? 5 Things to Know About Bryshere Gray". Wetpaint. Wetpaint. 5 January 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  5. ↑ Respect – Single by Yazz The Greatest, 22 March 2013, retrieved 2021-01-24
  6. ↑ Hammond, Evelyn (January 31, 2015). "'Empire' TV Series Cast Bryshere Gray And How He Crawled His Way Into The Phenomenal Fox Show Discussed". Franchise Herald. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  7. ↑ Kennedy, Gerrick D. (March 11, 2015). "'Empire' aims to climb music charts as well as TV rankings". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Bryshere Y. Gray Among Stars of BET's New Edition Project". ABC News . Associated Press. April 20, 2016. Archived from the original on April 21, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Empire Cast – Chart History (Billboard Hot 100)". Billboard . Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Empire Cast – Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard . Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Empire Cast – Chart History (Hot R&B Songs)". Billboard . Retrieved June 21, 2024.
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